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The primary difference between pip and pip3 lies in the version of Python they are associated with. pip typically refers to the package installer for Python 2.x, while pip3 is specifically designed for Python 3.x. As Python 2 has reached its end of life, many libraries are now primarily maintained for Python 3, which may explain why you encounter errors when using pip for installations like Numpy and Pandas.
To ensure you are using the correct version, you can check your Python installations by running the following commands in your terminal:
python --version # Check Python 2.x version
python3 --version # Check Python 3.x version
When installing packages, it is advisable to use pip3 for Python 3.x projects to avoid compatibility issues. If you need to install a package, you can do so with:
pip3 install numpy pandas
This will ensure that the libraries are installed in the correct environment.
2 The difference between pip and pip3 is related to the version of Python they are associated with:
- pip: Refers to the default package installer for Python 2.x. When you use pip, it installs packages for Python 2 if it is installed on your system.
- pip3: Refers to the package installer for Python 3.x. This command ensures that packages are installed for Python 3.
On many systems, especially where both Python 2 and Python 3 are installed, pip is configured for Python 2, and pip3 is for Python 3. Since Python 2 is no longer actively maintained, it’s a good practice to use pip3 to ensure you're working with Python 3 libraries.
If you're primarily using Python 3, you can make pip refer to Python 3 by creating a symbolic link or alias, but generally, it's safer to stick with pip3 for Python 3 libraries.